ManyWriters

On my birthday, my best friend claimed she was a bit short on cash and gave me a lottery ticket as a gift.
I didn't mind at all. In fact, I secretly helped her out financially quite a bit and even introduced her to a new job opportunity.
Later, I discovered the lottery ticket had won three million dollars, and I generously gave all of the winnings to her.
Little did I know, she conspired with my husband. They snuck into my house and stabbed me frantically seven or eight times, all while raving madly.
"If you could give me three million, you must have won much more. How could it possibly be only three million!"
When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day she gave me that birthday gift.

A Lottery Ticket That Bought Freedom

Two minutes later, the store manager sent someone over.


Due to the large number of purchases, a swarm of people with receipts gathered around Vienna.


"Miss, you haven't paid for your purchases in our store yet. Would you like to use a mobile payment app or swipe a card?"


Surrounded by the crowd, Vienna was visibly flustered.


I listened to the live audio broadcast on my phone, laughing uncontrollably.


Still want me to be the sucker buying clothes for you? Not much of a person, but dreaming big.


I heard Vienna's voice, full of urgency, "Just a moment, let me make a call."


I pretended not to see it. Sure enough, the moment the call was disconnected, her face turned dark, and she started to stammer.


"Please wait a bit longer. Someone will be here to pay soon."


I snickered. She's still waiting for me to be her fall guy?


I sent a message to the store manager, "Keep pressuring her. Push hard. Don't worry about me."


People love a good show; it's human nature. No amount of money can erase this universal pleasure.


As the crowd grew and the murmurs got louder, Vienna's face in the midst of it all became increasingly distressed.The phone rang more and more frequently, but I still chose to ignore it.


"Can't afford it and still come here, how embarrassing!"


"This is ridiculous, look at how poor she looks..."


"I really don't understand these people, why are they so vain..."


The crowd's words were about to drown Vienna.


Vienna stood alone in the center of the commotion, feeling like she was about to shatter.


Vienna finally had no choice but to take out her credit card from her purse.


After maxing out several cards, she finally managed to purchase everything.


I saw that the time was about right, so I casually returned to her side.


"Vienna, what's wrong? Why is everyone looking at you?"


Before Vienna could speak, a man nearby already started stirring things up.


"Hey, looks like she couldn't find a sucker to foot the bill, huh?"


"That's impossible, Vienna would never think like that!"


Vienna wanted to say something, but I shut her down with a big declaration.


The man wanted to say more, but was tugged by his female companion beside him, who whispered something, and he stopped talking.I looked over at the woman by his side, someone I vaguely recalled seeing at a party. After a quick nod of acknowledgment, I pulled Vienna away and left.


On the way home, Vienna didn't say a word to me.


I was just as happy with her silence, and the entire ride passed without conversation.


That night, Mason called to give me an earful.


"Rosalie, how could you leave Vienna there alone to be lectured by others?"


"Is it so strange that I don't want to be taken for a fool?"


"I certainly don't want to foot the bill only for you to take all the credit, Cinderella."


I had already anticipated his reaction.


After all, in our relationship, I held all the cards.


Chapter 5